6 TRAVEL + L E I S U R E / M AY 2 0 1 7
EDITOR’S PHOTOGRAPH: ASHISH CHAWLA; MAKEUP BY VIPIN ARORAFOR MORE PHOTOS FROM OUR TRAVELS
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @TRAVELANDLEISUREINDIA[email protected]
@TLRuchira on Twitter
@pinterest/ruchiraboseEditor’s Note
MAY 2017you get annoyingly clichéd questions like: “So which is your favourite destination in the world?” People
who know me, know that I’ve been a bit of a nomad and traveller long before I became editor of a travel
magazine. Since the age of 4, to be precise. I’m also known to have combed the whole of Asia like a Japanese
Zen gardener makes patterns in the sand. Methodically, and covering all of the area.
I love this continent. It has some of the most remarkable natural sights, culture, food, shopping, heritage
and people. Starting from the rugged horsemen riding the old silk route from Tajikistan to plum blossom
and handmade udon noodles in Japan, it’s a feast for all the fi ve senses. You can never be bored in Asia.
And yet, very often I come across our readers who will tell me there’s nothing new in Asia. They’ll tell me,
“When you’ve seen one temple, you’ve seen them all.” Or “Cambodia, Vietnam, Bali... it’s all the same rice
paddy fi elds.” I’ve even been challenged to suggest something that will interest a ‘been-there, done that’ set.
My answer is our Asia A-List issue. We decided to unearth the new, intense, rare and incredible in Asia.
The ‘A’ in A-List stands for AWESOME. It’s not one of those social-media-type claims. But to use a line
I often see on social media, “You won’t believe what we found!”
From the Avataar-like pods and nests of Keemala resort in Phuket (where we shot our cover), to
watching blonde macaques in the hot springs of the Japanese Alps, to being amidst the volcanoes, geysers
and brown bears in Kamchatka, Siberia, and sharing an incredibly simple but soul-satisfying meal with
Buddhist nuns in Myanmar; these are just some of the memorable moments waiting for you in Asia.
Fashion designer Phillip Lim visits Cambodia, the
country his parents fl ed during the days of the Khmer
Rouge, and shares his experiences of meandering
through temples, cooking with locals and creating a
new image of the land and its people.
Scouting the new for cruise lovers, Riaan George
goes aboard the spanking new Genting Dream and its
off -beat experience off erings.
We bust another myth this issue: That vegans and
vegetarians can’t have a great gourmet experience in
Asia. Adriana Pope who has spent a considerable amount
of her life on the continent suggests a trail of restaurants
and cafes that serve actually tasty vegan fare. For any
vegan, these should be the pages to pull out and keep.
Beyond the enchanting Asia, we have Champagne,
Israel, Peru, and a whole host of other destinations. We
particularly enjoyed returning to an old-favourite of T+L
readers: The Decoder. Where we create an easy-to-follow
quick guide that tells you all the essential things you
need to know to plan a trip to a destination, including
suggestions from local insiders. Summer’s a great time
to visit Porto, so just pull out the pages and set off.
Happy travels, RuchiraSOMETIMES, BEING PERCEIVED
AS AN ‘EXPERT’ IS NOT SUCH A
GREAT THING. MOSTLY BECAUSE
8 TRAVEL + LEISURE / MAY 2017